# bull /ˈbʊɫ/ (US) · /bˈʊl/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bull Updated: 2026-08-15 ## Senses ### 1. male animal noun · CEFR A2 an adult male animal of the cow family, or other large animals like elephants and whales. For teachers: an adult male of various large mammals, most commonly bovine species, but also including elephants, whales, and seals. - The farmer warned us not to walk through the field with the bull. - The massive bull stood guard over the herd, its presence enough to deter any predators from approaching the calves. ### 2. finance noun · CEFR B2 an investor who believes that stock market prices will go up. For teachers: an investor who expects prices to rise and, on this assumption, purchases securities or commodities for resale at a profit. - The bulls are happy today because the stock market reached a new high. - Market analysts remain bulls despite the recent volatility, citing strong consumer spending as a reason for continued growth. ### 3. nonsense noun · CEFR B2 · Informal something that is not true or is complete nonsense. For teachers: a euphemistic clipping of 'bullshit', referring to false statements, nonsense, or deceptive talk. - Don't listen to him; everything he says is just a load of bull. - The politician's explanation was dismissed as pure bull by the investigative journalists who had seen the original documents. ### 4. papal document noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical a formal public letter or order issued by the Pope. For teachers: a formal proclamation or edict issued by the Pope, named after the lead seal (bulla) traditionally appended to it. - The historian studied the papal bull issued in the fourteenth century. - The publication of the papal bull sparked significant debate across Europe regarding the limits of ecclesiastical authority. ### 5. target centre noun · CEFR B1 · British English the small circle in the middle of a target, especially in darts. For teachers: the small central circle of a target, particularly in archery or darts; a clipping of 'bullseye'. - He won the game by hitting the bull with his final throw. - The professional dart player consistently hit the bull, demonstrating remarkable precision under the pressure of the final round. ### 6. to push through verb · CEFR B2 to move forward with a lot of force, often pushing others out of the way. For teachers: to move aggressively or forcefully in a particular direction, often by physical shoving or intimidation. - He tried to bull his way through the crowded station to catch the train. - The offensive line managed to bull their way through the defense, creating a gap for the runner to score. ### 7. to polish verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal to polish shoes or boots until they are very shiny. For teachers: to polish footwear, especially military boots, to a mirror-like shine using a specific technique. - The soldiers spent hours bulling their boots before the parade. - The sergeant major inspected the recruits, ensuring every pair of boots had been bulled to a high standard of reflection. ### 8. male animal type adjective · CEFR B1 used to describe a male animal of a large species. For teachers: denoting the adult male of various large mammals; used attributively. - We saw a massive bull elephant during our safari trip. - The researchers tracked a bull whale for three weeks to study its migratory patterns across the Atlantic. ## Examples - The bull stood quietly in the middle of the field. - Farmers must be extremely careful when entering a field where a bull is kept, as they can be unpredictable. - In many ancient Mediterranean cultures, the bull served as a potent symbol of virility and raw power, often appearing in religious iconography and sacrificial rites. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.